Carla began to regularly go out without her boyfriend (Picture posed by models)

"It was in the last six months of our five-year relationship that things changed. I took the bull by the horns — or, perhaps more appropriately, I channeled my inner coward as a way to get out. I did what I always swore I wouldn’t do.

"The first few times it happened, I was drunk. Alcohol was flowing and it was a case of right time, right place.

"At least that’s what I told myself. In the morning, I convinced myself that a dirty dance, or text, or flirting wasn’t really cheating. That is, until it became more regular."

"Every weekend I partied without John. One night, a kiss developed into something more. A guy I’d seen out regularly approached me and brought me a drink.

"One thing led to another and I didn’t fight off his advances when he asked me outside.

After taking a boy home, her now ex-boyfriend found her cheating (Picture posed by models)

"The inevitable happened that night, and to make matters worse, we got caught. A friend of a friend heard about our hookup and, as they say, news travels fast. John was waiting on the doorstep for me when I got home.

"Seeing the look of devastation and hurt in his eyes was enough to break my heart. I’d never meant to hurt him. I’d just felt trapped and was only thinking of myself. It was the worst thing that could have happened but, ironically, it was also the best.

"For the first time in our relationship, John was in charge. He finally led me to the door. The decision to leave was out of my hands."

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